Windows 10 offers several accessibility features to address these needs, such as Magnifier to enlarge content on the screen, Narrator to read content to a user, the ability to adjust screen brightness or contrast, and the option of speaking text rather than typing it. This chapter from "Windows 10 Plain & Simple" covers these accessibility features.

In this section:

Using Magnifier

Setting up high contrast

Adjusting screen brightness

Making elements on your screen easier to see

Changing mouse settings

Changing keyboard settings

Using Touch Feedback

Working with Narrator

Using Speech Recognition

Turning on Closed Captioning

Using visual alternatives for sounds

Windows is used by millions of people around the globe. Some of those people face challenges in using a computer. Some have dexterity issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis and need to adjust mouse and keyboard settings to make providing input easier. Others face visual challenges that make content on the screen difficult to read. Some might need help hearing sounds or require an alternative way to connect with the spoken word in videos, such as close captioning.

Windows 10 offers several accessibility features to address these needs, such as Magnifier to enlarge content on the screen, Narrator to read content to a user, the ability to adjust screen brightness or contrast, and the option of speaking text rather than typing it. All of these tools make using a Windows 10 computer very easy.

Using Magnifier

Although it’s possible to enlarge or reduce contents in many instances—such as on a webpage or in a word processed document—it’s not possible to enlarge the Windows environment itself. For example, you can’t enlarge the entire desktop (though you can enlarge the icons for desktop shortcuts). To enlarge your entire on-screen environment by a significant factor, you can use the Magnifier feature. This feature is useful to those who have low vision.